12/10/2017 Six Pack - The Primary Flight Instruments - Cockpit Instrument Panel

YOU ARE HERE: HOME / GROUND SCHOOL / AERONAUTICS - GENERAL KNOWLEDGE / SIX PACK
THE PRIMARY FLIGHT INSTRUMENTS

Six Pack The Primary Flight

Instruments
March 13, 2010 by Geo McKay + 22 Comments

Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn

Cessna 172 Instrument Panel

Before the days of Glass Panels, this was a typical
General Aviation Instrument Panel.

Even with the trend towards only Glass Cockpits, the

basic Flight Instruments remain the same.

Six Pack?
The Six Pack is not a half-dozen beers, and its not a
well toned and muscled belly. Instead, Pilots know the
Aviation Six Pack Instrument 6 Pack
6-Pak refers to the six Primary Flight Instruments.

3+3=6
The 6 basic ight instruments are divided into two categories. Three instruments are connected to the
aircrafts Pitot Static Pressure System, and the other three are Gyro Instruments typically driven by the
aircrafts Vacuum system pump. Its important for student pilots to recognize this di erence. In the event of
a partial system failure, the pilot will be better prepared when they recognize the speci c instruments that
may be a ected.

The SIX PACK:

1. Airspeed Indicator (Pitot Static)

https://learntofly.ca/six-pack-primary-flight-instruments/ 1/18
12/10/2017 Six Pack - The Primary Flight Instruments - Cockpit Instrument Panel

2. Attitude Indicator (Gyro)

3. Altimeter (Pitot Static)
4. Vertical Speed Indicator (Pitot Static)
5. Heading Indicator (Gyro)
6. Turn Coordinator (Gyro)

These six instruments are denoted by number on the Cessna 172 Instrument Panel above.

Every pilot must havea thorough understanding of these six ight instruments the Aviation Six Pack and
the way they work. Pilots should have knowledge of each instruments characteristics and limitations.
During ight, a pilot must interpret the information displayed on these six ight instruments to y safely and
within the limitations of the aircrafts safe operating envelope.

Lets take a closer look at each of these six ight instruments and how they work.

Six Pack 6 Pack Cockpit Instruments

Pitot Static Instruments
The Pitot Static System relies on a Pitot Tube to measure the dynamic pressure due to the forward motion
of the airplane through the air, and Static Vents to measure the static, outside barometric pressure as the
airplane gains or loses altitude. The three ight instruments connected to the Pitot Static System include the
Airspeed Indicator, Altimeter, and Vertical Speed Indicator.

Gyroscopic Instruments
A Gyroscope is a rotor or spinning wheel, rotating at a high speed. Usually, this is powered by the Vacuum
System Pump. Gyroscopic Inertia is the tendency of a rotating body to maintain its plane of rotation,known
as Rigidity in Space.Gyroscopic Precession is the tendency of a rotating body to consistently react to a force
being applied by turning in the direction of its rotation exactly 90 degrees to its axis. These principles of
physics are used to make very precise Flight Instruments including the Attitude Indicator, Heading
Indicator, and Turn Coordinator.

#1) Airspeed Indicator

The Airspeed Indicator measures the speed of the aircraft through the air, but really this is the speed at which
the air is owing over the airplane. And remember, this is not a measurement of ground speed. The dial is
usually calibrated in Nautical miles known as KNOTS.

https://learntofly.ca/six-pack-primary-flight-instruments/ 2/18
12/10/2017 Six Pack - The Primary Flight Instruments - Cockpit Instrument Panel

KNOTS vs. Miles

KNOTS are a measure of speed based on nautical, or sea miles.
Aviation uses both nautical and statute miles for measuring
distance and speed, but the Airspeed Indicator typically shows
KNOTS.

Nautical Mile = 6,076 feet

Statute Mile = 5,280 feet
Therefore, 1 Nautical Mile distance = 1.15 Statute Mile distance

The airspeed indicator is connected to the Pitot Static System. To

give a reading of speed through the air, the ight instrument measures the di erence between the dynamic
pressure in the Pitot Tube and the atmospheric pressure fromthe Static vent. When the airplane is standing
still on the ground, the pressure in the two systems will be the same resulting in a reading of zero. However,
when the airplane is travelling through the air, the dynamic pressure in the Pitot system will increase and a
reading is registered.

Indicated Airspeed
The Indicated airspeed (IAS) is the reading displayed on the face of the instrument. The small windows at
the top and bottom of the Airspeed Indicator are used for determining True Airspeed (TAS). Remember,
the Airspeed Indicator displays the Indicated Air Speed (IAS), and adjustments are needed to calculate the
Calibrated Airspeed (CAS) and True Airspeed (TAS).

Speed Ranges and limitations are marked on the Airspeed Indicator and are speci c to the make and model
of the aircraft. Di erent makes and models of airplanes will have the markings at di erent speeds based on
limitations of each aircraft. Typically Green markings on instruments re ect normal operations,and Red
markings re ect abnormal operations or limitations.

The Red Line

The speed marked by the Red Line is the Never Exceed Speed (Vne). This speed should never be exceeded in
the Aircraft or structural damage may occur.

The Yellow Arc

The speed range marked by the Yellow Arc is the Caution Speed Range. Speed range indicated by the Yellow
Arc is for Smooth Air Only.

n To Fly Flight Schools Ground School Air Shows Aircraft Videos Aviation Stuff
https://learntofly.ca/six-pack-primary-flight-instruments/ 3/18
12/10/2017 Six Pack - The Primary Flight Instruments - Cockpit Instrument Panel
n To Fly Flight Schools Ground School Air Shows Aircraft Videos Aviation Stuff
The Green Arc
The Green Arc denotes the Normal Operating Airspeed Range.

The White Arc

The Flaps Operating Range is denoted by the White Arc. Flaps may only be used within this range of speeds.

#2) Attitude Indicator

The Attitude Indicator is also called the arti cial horizon or the
gyro horizon. This ight instrument depicts the position of the
airplane in relation to the horizon. It shows whether the wings are
level, and if the plane is climbing or descending, or ying straight
and level. A pair of wings represents the attitude of the aircraft.
Behind the aircraft is a ball. The top is blue, representing the sky,
and the bottom half is usually brown, representing the ground.
As the airplane manoeuvres in the air, the pair of wings will show
thedegree of bank and pitch attitude.

The Attitude Indicator is a Gyroscopic Instrument, and it uses a Gyroscope to stabilize a horizon bar which
Subscribe
stays parallel to the natural horizon. The miniature airplane Now!
in the centre of LearnToFly.ca
the Attitude Indicator will pitch
and bank around the horizon bar to indicate the airplanes current attitude relative to the horizon.

#3) Altimeter
The Altimeter measures the Altitude or height of the aircraft
above Sea Level. Remember, ground elevation varies widely, so
the Altimeter reading does not measure height about the Ground,
but instead above Sea Level. The Pilot must be aware of the
Ground elevation,Pilot Tips.
to then Aviation
calculate News.
the heightSpecial O ers.
of the airplane
Sign-up Now. It's FREE! Cancel
above the Ground.
anytime.Privacy

Similar to a clock,YES,
an Altimeter
I WANT has three hands. The fastest
ACCESS!
moving hand reads in Hundreds of Feet. The shortest hand reads
NO THANKS
in Thousands of feet. The Longest hand, which moves the slowest, reads in Tens of Thousands of feet. (On
some altimeters, the Tens of Thousands of feet is represented withthe shortest hand, instead of the Longest
Hand)

https://learntofly.ca/six-pack-primary-flight-instruments/ 4/18
12/10/2017 Six Pack - The Primary Flight Instruments - Cockpit Instrument Panel

The Altimeter pictured here has a reading of 1,410 feet above sea level. The fastest moving hand
(Hundreds)is between the 4 and 5, and the small hash marks represent 20 feet each. Therefore, this hand has
a reading of 410 feet. The shortest hand (Thousands) is between the 1 and 2. Therefore, the current altitude
would be 1,410.

The Altimeter reading is based on barometric pressure, and barometric pressure is constantly changing. This
requires the altimeter to be set prior to every ight, and during ight as barometric pressure in your ying
area changes.

#4) Vertical Speed Indicator (VSI)

The Rate of Climb and Rate of Descent are indicated on the
Vertical Speed Indicator (VSI). This is measured in Feet Per
Minute, and displayed in Hundreds of FPM.

The VSI ight instrument measures the vertical speed (vertical

velocity, or rate of climb). This instrument is connected to the
static air pressure system. There is a standard barometric pressure
change with altitude changes, and this standard rate of change is
calibrated to measure the aircrafts change in altitude and rate of
change.

The pilot relies on both the Altimeter and the Vertical Speed Indicator to monitor altitude and altitude
changes. At a glance, the VSI shows the pilot if they are ying at a steady altitude, or if they are ascending or
descending, and the rate at which their altitude is changing in feet per minute.

#5) Heading Indicator

The Heading Indicator is another Gyroscopic ight instrument.
Sometimes known as the Directional Gyro or Heading Gyro, this
instrument is the principal direction instrument used in ight.

The Heading Indicator is gyroscopically stabilized. Unlike the

magnetic compass,the Directional Gyro is not as a ected by
banks, turns, and speed changes. However, the Heading Indicator
is NOT a magnetic compass.

https://learntofly.ca/six-pack-primary-flight-instruments/ 5/18
12/10/2017 Six Pack - The Primary Flight Instruments - Cockpit Instrument Panel

The Heading Indicatormust be set according to the Magnetic Compass indication before takeo , and
occasionally adjusted to the Magnetic compass while the aircraft is in steady, level ight. Precession error
must be corrected for at regular intervals of about 15 minutes by re-calibrating the Heading Indicator (HI) to
the Magnetic Compass.

The outline of an aircraft is positioned over a 360 degree scale with markings for North, East, South and
West. The larger markings indicate 10 degrees each, and the smaller markings denote 5 degree variations.

#6) Turn Coordinator

This is another Gyroscopic instrument. This instrument gives
information about the direction and rate of a turn. Additionally,
it indicates if the turn is being own in coordinated ight. If the
aircraft is slipping or skidding during a turn, the ball (or
inclinometer) in the bottom portion of the Turn Coordinator
will not be centred. During a coordinated turn, the ball will
remain centered. If the ball is not centered, the pilot must adjust
the turn by using more or less rudder to correct for adverse yaw.

Standard Rate Turn

The white lines indicate the bank amount for a Standard Rate Turn. The turn indicator indicates the rate of
turn, and not the amount of turn. A Standard Rate Turn, or Rate One Turn, will give a standard rate of
turn of 3 degrees per second. Therefore, a 360 degree turn will be exactly 2 minutes. This allows the pilot to
determine by time, the degrees of turn. For instance, a pilot could use a standard rate of turn for 60 seconds,
and con dently know they have changed their course by 180 degrees based on 3 degrees per second. This
becomes particularly important when pilots begin Instrument ying.

Six Pack Primary Flight Instruments Cockpit Instrument Panel

Every Pilot needs to have a complete and proper understanding of the Six Pack The Primary Flight
Instruments.

Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn

Filed Under: Aeronautics - General Knowledge, Ground School, Learn To Fly

Tagged With: Airspeed Indicator, Altimeter, Attitude Indicator, Cessna 172, Directional Gyro, Flight Instruments, Heading
Indicator, Six Pack, Turn Coordinator, Vertical Speed Indicator, VSI

https://learntofly.ca/six-pack-primary-flight-instruments/ 6/18
12/10/2017 Six Pack - The Primary Flight Instruments - Cockpit Instrument Panel

SUBSCRIBE AND NEVER MISS A LEARNTOFLY.CA ARTICLE!

Subscribe to the free newsletter now. (No spam, we promise.) Published by LearnToFly Inc.

Enter your email address... GO

You may cancel anytime. Refer to our Privacy Policy or Contact Us for more details.

About Geoff McKay

LearnToFly.ca Editor. Jesus Follower. Information Technology Executive. PMP. Publisher
and developer of incredible online brands. Follow me: Twitter / Google+

Comments

ATLAS says
JANUARY 14, 2012 AT 4:46 PM

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR A GREAT WEB-SIGHT. THANKS FOR KEEPING
IT SIMPLE I AM LEARNING A GREAT DEAL FUTURE PILOT IN COMMAND.
LOVE AND PEACE! ATLAS

REPLY

Orville Lynch says

DECEMBER 4, 2017 AT 2:02 PM

https://learntofly.ca/six-pack-primary-flight-instruments/ 7/18
12/10/2017 Six Pack - The Primary Flight Instruments - Cockpit Instrument Panel

Accurate and explanatory. Very helpful. Now understand the three hands in the
Altimeter. thank you.

REPLY

Assefa says
NOVEMBER 29, 2012 AT 12:40 PM

I appreciate the way you put the de nition of each component. Thank you very very much.

REPLY

Dale says
JULY 27, 2014 AT 6:48 PM

The DGI (Directional Gyro Instrument) may be part of the six pack , but the Magnetic
Compass is the FAA required directional instrument.

REPLY

babbu khan says

OCTOBER 8, 2014 AT 1:00 AM

thanx its very good

i m an aircraft maintenance engineer student
its usefull.

REPLY

rana Bahadur chhetri says

OCTOBER 21, 2014 AT 10:14 PM

very helpful and useful thank you so much

https://learntofly.ca/six-pack-primary-flight-instruments/ 8/18
12/10/2017 Six Pack - The Primary Flight Instruments - Cockpit Instrument Panel

REPLY

Mike Lari says

FEBRUARY 16, 2015 AT 2:01 PM

Great Website

REPLY

ali says
AUGUST 5, 2015 AT 12:52 PM

thanx for the detailed information of six pack ..

REPLY

Chris says
JANUARY 3, 2016 AT 5:05 PM

Very simple and straightforward information, this is perfect to study before starting ight
school, thank you.

REPLY

Muhammed shibil says

JANUARY 7, 2016 AT 1:38 AM

Yes . Thes infermation realy curet . I know iam co pilot

REPLY

Abdulaziz says
FEBRUARY 4, 2016 AT 5:34 PM

This is awesome. I used this website for a report.

https://learntofly.ca/six-pack-primary-flight-instruments/ 9/18
12/10/2017 Six Pack - The Primary Flight Instruments - Cockpit Instrument Panel

REPLY

Elise says
FEBRUARY 23, 2016 AT 12:24 PM

This is a great Job

Thank you for doing this.
Its really help me now to understand about how I could use well in save ight.
I really appreciate to who wrote this.
GB

REPLY

Kenny Lheem says

APRIL 20, 2016 AT 9:00 AM

The main instruments are very well explainedI not a pilot yet but I can really imagine how it
works by co relating all instruments together.
Thanks a lot it help me very much in my research.

REPLY

Thomas Spidle says

MAY 2, 2016 AT 10:40 AM

In your discussion of the Heading Indicator:

The Heading Indicator must be set according to the Magnetic Compass indication before
takeo , and occasionally adjusted to the Magnetic compass while the aircraft is in steady, level
ight. Precision error must be corrected for at regular intervals of about 15 minutes.
The word precision should be precession caused by gyro internal friction and other errors
caused by using a gyro transported across the earth.

REPLY

Geoff McKay says

MAY 6, 2016 AT 5:02 PM

https://learntofly.ca/six-pack-primary-flight-instruments/ 10/18
12/10/2017 Six Pack - The Primary Flight Instruments - Cockpit Instrument Panel

Thomas, Thanks for catching the typo on Precession just corrected the typo.

REPLY

comfort Ayhok says

JULY 31, 2016 AT 10:38 AM

Thanks alot, just cleared my hazy cerebrum. thanks for being straight to the point. maintenance
engineer in the making(Avionics).

REPLY

Tolegen says
AUGUST 6, 2016 AT 2:16 PM

Thx, dude!!! Very interesting. I am an ATC. And I love everything connected with aviation and
planes. Love and peace from Kazakhstan. Almaty

REPLY

Saleem Khan says

AUGUST 10, 2016 AT 6:05 PM

Thanks , I absolutely love it , just awesome

REPLY

John Kunka says

AUGUST 18, 2016 AT 2:38 AM

A bunch of thanks for uploading this useful material! It has been very well composed, which
makes its gist easy to learn and acquire.

REPLY
https://learntofly.ca/six-pack-primary-flight-instruments/ 11/18
12/10/2017 Six Pack - The Primary Flight Instruments - Cockpit Instrument Panel

abenezar says
AUGUST 31, 2016 AT 2:13 PM

wow i really like the way you express thanks a lot

REPLY

Mike Cassidy says

JANUARY 16, 2017 AT 4:56 PM

Very helpful grouping six-pack as most viewed during initial training and e cient summary.

REPLY

A.D. says
JULY 9, 2017 AT 2:52 PM

Bookmarking this site for very useful and clear wording of exactly what I need to know as a
student pilot.
Thank you for taking the time to put this out there.

REPLY

Leave a Reply
Your email address will not be published. Required elds are marked *

Comment

https://learntofly.ca/six-pack-primary-flight-instruments/ 12/18
12/10/2017 Six Pack - The Primary Flight Instruments - Cockpit Instrument Panel

Name *

Email *

Website

POST COMMENT

SEARCH LEARNTOFLY.CA

Search this website

https://learntofly.ca/six-pack-primary-flight-instruments/ 13/18
12/10/2017 Six Pack - The Primary Flight Instruments - Cockpit Instrument Panel

LEARNTOFLY.CA NEWSLETTER

Subscribe to receive Aviation articles, updates,

promotions and o ers from LearnToFly.ca

First Name...

Enter your email address...

GO

Published by LearnToFly Inc. You may cancel

anytime. Refer to our Privacy Policy or
Contact Us for more details.

LEARN TO FLY TV

https://learntofly.ca/six-pack-primary-flight-instruments/ 14/18
12/10/2017 Six Pack - The Primary Flight Instruments - Cockpit Instrument Panel

LearnToFly Inc.
26 videos

Subscribe 9K

LEARN TO FLY CANADA

MORE AVIATION ARTICLES

Brampto
n Flight
Centre
Open
House
2017
Brampton
Caledon Airport Day 2017 Sunday
September 10, 2017, 10 AM 4 PM The
Brampton Flight Centre, and the Great War
Flying Museum (GWFM) are hosting their
annual Airport Day on Sunday September 10,
2017. Dont miss this fun aviation event.
Proceeds go to support the Great War Flying
Museum located at the []

Brantford Community
Charity Air Show 2017
https://learntofly.ca/six-pack-primary-flight-instruments/ 15/18
12/10/2017 Six Pack - The Primary Flight Instruments - Cockpit Instrument Panel

Brantford
Airport
Community
Charity Air
Show 2017
Wednesday
August 30, 2017
The Brantford Community Charity Air
Show 2017 is a mid-week airshow held at the
Brantford Airport. Since 1999, the Brantford
Airport has been home to the Rotary Charity
Airshow. This year, the Air Show has been
renamed the Community Charity Airshow.
Weekday Show []

Canadian
Arctic
Aviation
Tour
2017
CAAT
Canadian Arctic
Aviation Tour 2017 June 2 August 18, 2017
The Canadian Arctic Aviation Tour (CAAT)
2017 is an ambitious and exciting Canada 150
Project. July 1, 2017, Canada marks
thesesquicentennial anniversary of Canadian
Confederation. 1867 2017 Happy 150th
Birthday Canada! Canada 150 The 150th
anniversary of Canada is celebrated and []

FLYFEST 2017 Hamilton

Fathers Day Weekend
FLYFEST 2017 Hamilton June 17 & 18
Fathers Day Weekend 2017 Dont miss Fly

https://learntofly.ca/six-pack-primary-flight-instruments/ 16/18
12/10/2017 Six Pack - The Primary Flight Instruments - Cockpit Instrument Panel

Fest 2017
Hamilton
Presented by the
Canadian
Warplane
Heritage
Museum
(CWHM) located atJohn C. Munro
Hamilton International Airport, in Mount
Hope, Ontario. Avro Lancaster Bomber The
iconic Avro Lancaster Bomber(VeRA) is the
agship of the Canadian Warplane Heritage
Museum []

ABOUT US

LearnToFly.ca | Follow us:

@LearnToFlyCA / Google+

[Read More]

LEARNTOFLY.CA WEBSITE

Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
Trademarks

https://learntofly.ca/six-pack-primary-flight-instruments/ 17/18
12/10/2017 Six Pack - The Primary Flight Instruments - Cockpit Instrument Panel

Disclaimer

We'd love to hear from you.

Toll-Free: 1.866.96.PILOT

CONTACT LEARNTOFLY INC. CONNECT WITH US

Contact Us Want to keep up with what's going on in Canadian

About Us Aviation? Follow LearnToFly.ca via Social Media.

Feedback
BE SOCIAL
Advertise
Submit News
Add Your School
Subscribe

COPYRIGHT 20102017 LEARNTOFLY INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED LEARNTOFLY INC. IS AN ONLINE
PUBLISHER, AND NOT A FLIGHT SCHOOL.

https://learntofly.ca/six-pack-primary-flight-instruments/ 18/18